Baby carriage



Oct. 17, 1933 c. J. 'RlcHARDSON BABY QARRIAGE Filed Feb. 11, 1952 2 sheets sh eet 1 oct 17, 1933 c. J. RICHARDSON 1,930,660

BABY CARRIAGE Filed Feb. 11, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Charles Jlrlchardsom,

Patented Oct. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES BABY CARRIAGE Charles J. Richardson,

assigner to Bloch Goration of New Jersey Egg Harbor City, N. J., Cart Company, a corpo- Application February 11, 1932. Serial No. 592,271..

10 Claims.

'Ihs invention relates to improvements in baby carriages and has for its object to provide a coach of novel, simple and eiiicient construction which may be easily and quickly converted into either what is termed a stroller, in which a child may'sit in an erect position, or what is termed a baby carriage proper, in which a baby or child may lie or rest in an extended or prone position.

The invention is characterized by the employment of a body having a rearward section mounted on the frame of the running gear and a forward section slidably connected tothe rearward section for movement with relation thereto substantially in a vertical direction from an elevated position, forming the baby carriage proper, to a depressed position, forming the stroller.

The invention is characterized, further, by so constructing and relating the several elements of the device that the conversion thereof maybe eiected Without materially altering the general appearance of the carriage, and that the carriage will present a compact and attractive appearance in all positions of its parts. v

The invention includes a novel means for ,re-

leasably supporting the forward body section in its elevated position, and it resides in theelements and the combinations of them hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, y

Figure l is a side elevation of a baby carriage, showing one form of embodiment of the invention, and showing the forward body section in the elevated position by full lines, and in the depressed position by dot-and-dash lines.

vFigure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical section through the body of the carriage, showing the forward section thereof in the elevated position.-

Figure 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, showing the forward body section in the depressed position Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the forward portion of the body, on line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse, vertical section through the coach on line 5 5 of Fig. 1. l

Figure 6 is a vertical section, enlarged, showing the slidable connection between the two body sections at one side thereof.

Figure '7 is a horizontal section through the parts shown in Fig. 6, on line '7 7 of Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a detail, enlarged, showing part of the mechanism for releasably supporting the for- A Ward body section in the elevated position, as seen from the rear end of the carriage.

Figure 9 is a vertical section through the parts shown in Fig. 8, on line 9 9 of Fig. 8. l

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates the body of the carriage, 3 the frame, 5 the axles and 6 the carrying wheels which are rotatably mounted on the axles.

The frame 3 includes in its construction a pair of lower parallel bars 8 and a pair of upper parallel bars 10 located above the bars 8. The lower bars 8 haveupwardly curved forward and rearward end Vportions 11 and 12,*respectively. The Aupper ends of the forward end portions 11 are connected by a horizontal bumper bar 13 suitablesecured thereto. The upper ends of the rearward end portions 12 terminate in upwardly and rearwardly extending arms 14 which are connected by a suitable handle bar 15. The lower, horizontal portions of the bars 8 rest uponand are secured to the axles 5.

The upper bars 10 of the frame are provided with raised rearward portions 16 and depressed forward portions 17, and the forward and rearward ends of the bars 10 are provided with bolts 18- which extend upwardly therefrom and through .Y apertures in brackets 19 and 20 secured to the forward and rearward portions 11 and 12, respectively, of the bars 8. These bolts 18 are encircled by helical springs 21 between the brackets 19 and 20 and'heads on the upper ends of the bolts 18. v

The bolts 18 are adapted to slide through the apertures `in the brackets 19 and 20, and the springs 21 yieldingly support the bars 10.

The bodyl 21 of the carriage is formed in two sections, a rearward section 22 and a forward section 23. The rearward section 22 is mounted onlthe yraised rearward portions 16 of the frame bars l0 and it is firmly secured thereto by means of bolts 24 which `extend through the bars 10 and the side barsk 25 of a floor frame 26 which supports the floor or seat panel 27 of the section 22.

The rearward body section 22 comprises the door frame 26, panel 27, side walls- 28, extending above and below the floor frame 26, a rear wall 29 and a forward, transverse wall 30` connecting the side walls 28 below the 'floor frame 26. The section 22 forms a transverse connection between the frame bars 10, and the section22 and bars l0 constitute a strong andA rigid structure which is yieldingly supported on the lower frame bars 8 by the springs 21, as previouslyv described.

The forward body section comprises side walls 31, a bottom or floor wall 32, a forward wall 33, a rearward wall 34,' connecting the lower portions of the side walls, forward and lateralledge bars 35 and 36 secured adjacent to the forward wall 33 and side walls 31, respectively, and a removable floor panel 37, resting upon the ledge bars 35 and 36 and rearward wall 34 and vspaced above the bottom or floor wall 32, vas illustrated in Figs. l

YZandt.

The side walls 310i the forward body section `23 are alined with the Side walls 28 of the rearward section 22 and form in effect continuations again; and to permit such movements of the forward section 23, it is slidably connected to the rearward section 22 by the following means:

Each side wall 28 of the rearward `section 22 is provided with two screw eyes screwed into the forwardr end of the same and spaced one above the other, aslshown inthe drawings, and each side wall 3l of the forward section 23 is provided with a rod 4,1 located between its rearward end and the forward end of the adjacent side wall 28 of the rearward section 22 and extending parallel thereto, and through the screw eyes 40 and having its respective upper and lower end portions bent and secured `to the wall 3l, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6.

The adjacent ends of thev side walls 28 and 31 are provided with opposing, parallel channels 42 l and 43, respectively, which open into each other and the rods 41 extend centrally through the spaces between the walls provided by these channels. The channels 42 and 43 house andconceal lthe rod 41, and the projecting free ends of the screw eyes 40, and the rod 41 is adapted to slide through the screw eyes 40 and guide the forward body section 23 in its movements from one to the other of its elevated or depressed positionsand back again.

When the forward body section 23 is in its depressed position, as shown in Fig. 3, and by dotand-dash lines in Fig. l, it is supported by the upper bent end portions of the rods 41 resting upon the upper screw eyes 40, and when the section 23 is inthe elevated position shown by full r lines in Figs. 1 and 2, it is releasably supported v therein by a means which I shall now describe.

Secured to the forward wall 30 `of the rearward body section 22 is a centrally-arranged bar or plate 50, whose lower end portion extends below A the bottom of the wall 30 and has a bracket 5l secured thereto and provided with a pair ofl spaced, rearwardly extending` arms 52. The arms 52 provide bearings for the inner end portion of a shaft or rod 53 which extends outwardly therefrom parallel to the wall 30, to a position beneath and in. close proximity to one of the side walls 28 and has its outer end portion bent or extended downwardly to provide a suitable handle 54 by means of which it may be turned by hand. The

outer end portion of the shaft or rod 53 is supported by and fitted to turn in a suitable bracket 55 secured to the wall 30 in spaced relation to the bracket 51.

The portion of the -shaft or rod 53 located between the arms 52 is bent to form a downwardly extending crank 56 having one endportion of a bolt 57 pivotally mounted thereon. The bolt 57 extends forwardly from the crank 56 through and beyond suitable guide openings in the bracket 51 and bar 50 and rests normally in the positionv shown in Fig. 9. When the bolt 57 is in the normal position, its free endportion is located beneath the lower end of a plate or bar 58 which extends parallel to the bar 50 forwardly thereofand is secured to the central portion of the rearward wall 34 of the forward body rsection 23;

and, in this position of the bolt 57, the bar 58v rests thereon and supports the forward body section 23 in the elevated position.

When it is desired to lower the body section 23 from the elevated position to the depressed position, the handle 54 is turned rearwardly to turn the shaft 53 and crank 56 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 9 until the free end of the bolt 67 clears the bar 58, whereupon the body section 23 will drop by gravity or may be lowered by hand to the depressed position.

One arm 52 of the bracket 51 is provided with a projecting stop pin 59 adapted to be engaged by the crank 56 to limit the movement thereof when the handle 54 and bolt 57 are operated to release the body section 23. The shaft 53 is provided with a torsion spring 60 encircling the same and having one end thereof engaged with a'cotter pin 61 extending through the shaft,'and`the other end thereof engaged with a cotter pin62 extending through one of the bracket arms The spring 50 erves to return the bolt 57 automatically to its normal position after it has been Ymoved therefrom and thereafter released.

After the handle 54 has been operated to with-I the body section 23 has been lowered and'therel after thehandle 54 has been released, the spring 60 will move the free end of the bolt 5:7 forward- Ydraw the bolt 57 from beneath the bar 58 and "1'00 ly into contact with the bar 58 against which it body section has been raised to the elevated position, whereupon the lower end of the bary 58 will clear the top of the bolt 57 and the spring 60 will return the bolt to its normal position, shown in the elevated position. y

.When the body section 23 is in the elevated position, the top of its rearward wall 34 and the upper surfaces of the ledge bars 35 and 36 therevwill rest in slidable contactv therewith until the "T .in Fig. 9, to again support the body*k section 23{10 of are substantially kushfwith the top of' the "1*15 floor frame 26, 'and the top of the panel 37 is substantially flush withv the top of the floor or seat panel 27 supported on the frame 26, so that,'in this positon of the parts, the two panels 27 and 37 present a continuous iioor or botom for the `-12o carriage, which extends from end 'to end of the interior vof the body 2 thereof and provides 'the Ybaby carriage proper in which a lchild or baby may rest or sleep in an extended or prone position.

When body section 23 is lowered to the depressed positon to convert it into a strollerthe panel 37 is removed from the section 23 andmay be conveniently placed upon the panel 2 7 of the fes rearward section 22 and thereby contsitute aseat'j' forthe stroller, as shown in Fig. 3. The'removal of the panel 37 from the body section 23 provides a foot well therein suiciently deep, as related to v the seat portion of the stroller, to comfortably receive and contain the feet and legs of a child;

either position of its adjustable, forward body section 23, and the general lines of the carriage` body are altered but little when its forward section 23 is moved from` one tothe other of its two positionsl of adjustment. v

` I claim as my invention,

1. In a baby carriage, a frame, carrying wheels;

therefor, a rearward bodysection mounted on the "-23 dal frame, a forward body section, parts carried by one of said sections and having straight, parallel guiding surfaces, parts carried by the other of said sections and cooperating with the first named parts for slidably connecting the sections for a straight line movement of the forward section from an elevated position to a depressed position, means for releasably supporting the forward section in its elevated position, and means for supporting the forward section in its depressed position.

2. In a baby carriage, a frame, carrying wheels therefor, a rearward body section mounted on the frame and having side walls provided with substantially straight forward ends, a forward body section movable substantially in a straight line parallel to said ends from an. elevated position to a depressed position and having side walls alined with the side walls of the rearward section and provided with substantially lstraight rearward ends adjacent to said forward ends, parts carried by the straight ends of one of said sections and having guiding surfaces in parallel relation thereto, parts carried by the straight ends of the other of said sections and cooperating with the first named parts for slidably connecting the sections, means for releasably supporting the forward section in its elevated position, and means for supporting the forward section in its depressed position.

3. In a baby carriage, a frame, carrying wheels therefor, a rearward body section mounted on the frame, a forward body section movable substantially in a straight line from an elevated position to a depressed position, means for slidably connecting said sections for such movement, the walls of said sections having parts embracing and concealing said means, means for releasably supporting the forward section in its elevated position, and means for supporting the forward section in its depressed position.

4. In a baby carriage, a fra-me, carrying wheels therefor, a rearward body section mounted on the frame and having side walls provided with substantially straight forward ends, a forward body section movable substantiallyin a straight line parallel to said ends from an elevated position to a depressed position and having side walls alined with the side walls of the rearward section and provided with substantially straight rearward ends adjacent to said forward ends, means for slidably connecting said sections for such movement, said ends of said sections having oppositely disposed channels therein containing and concealing said means, means for releasably supporting the forward section in its elevated position, and means for supporting the forward section in its depressed position.

5. In a baby carriage, a frame, carrying wheels therefor, a rearward body section mounted on the frame, a forward body section movable from an elevated position to a depressed position, means -slida'oly connecting said sections and comprising central portion extending through said screw eyes and its end portions secured to the other section, means for releasably supporting the forward section in its elevated position, .and means for supporting the forward section in its depressed position.

7. In a baby carriage, a frame, carrying wheels therefor, a rearward body section mounted on the frame, a forward body section movable substantially in a straight line from an elevated position to a depressed position, means for slidably connecting said sections for such movement, said means preventing the tilting of said forward section in all positions thereof, a bolt movable from an operative position supporting said forward section in its elevated position to an inoperative position releasing the same, means operable to move said bolt, and means for. supporting said forward section in its depressed position.

8. In a baby carriage, a frame, carrying wheels therefor, a rearward body section mounted on the frame, a forward body section movable from an elevated position to .a depressed position, means for slidably connecting said sections, means for supporting said forward section in its depressed 100 position, a bolt movable from an operative position supporting said forward section in its elevated position to an inoperative position releasing the same, and means operable to move said bolt and comprising a shaft mounted to turn in bearings on said rearward section and provided with a handle on one end portion thereof and a crank on the other end portion thereof operatively connected to said bolt.

9. In a baby carriage, a frame, carrying wheels 110 therefor, a rearward body section mounted on the frame, a forward body section movable from an elevated position to a depressed position, means for slidably connecting said sections, means for supporting said forward section inits depressed 115 position, a bolt movable from an operative position supporting said forward section in its elevated position to an inoperative position releasing the same, and means operable to move said boit and comprising a shaft mounted to turn in bearings on said rearward section and having one end portion bent to extendat an angle to the central portion thereof and form a handle and having the other end portion bent to extend at an angle to the central portion thereof and form a crank operatively connected to said bolt.

10. In a baby carriage, a frame, carrying wheels therefor, a rearward body section mounted on the frame and having side walls and a' bottom wall extending between them, a forward body section movable substantially in a straight line from an elevated position to a depressed position and having side walls and a bottom wall extending between them on a lower plane than the plane of the bottom wall of the rearward section in both positions of forward section, means for slidably connecting said sections for such movement, means for supporting the forward section in its elevated position, means for supporting the forward section in its depressed position, a removable panel 140 within the forward section and spaced above the bottom wall thereof and having its top surface substantially iiush with the top surface of the bottom wall of the rearward section when the forward section is in its elevated position, and means 145 carried by the forward section for supportingA said panel.

CHARLES J. RICHARDSON. 

